Light seal curtain



Oct. 11, 1938.

l.. F; JULIEN LIGHE.1 SEAL CURTAIN Filed Jan. 14, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Oct. 11, 1938. F. JULIEN LIGHT lSEAL CURTAIN Filed Jan. 14, 1937 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Gtfornegs Patented Oct. 11, 1938 Y l' fucrn'i` SEALVUR'rAIN I u w: je .LoullisY F. Julien, Detroit, assgnor to Cham-AberlinMetal Weather StripkCo.,zDetroit, Mich.,

u n V,a corporation gf 'Michiga I "VAiplikation January "14, 1937,'vsrerimwNo. k120,491

Claims. ,(01.- 15s-10)l 1.

invention relates toa light excluding-shade 'or curtain for Windows oryother openings inthe walls-of laboratories, moving picture, operati-ng;X-ray and other rooms from which it-'is essenv tial YthatV every outsideray of lightY be excluded.

An object of the present invention is toso mount a curtain for thispurpose' as to preclude theentranceof anylight through or around theedge portions of the curtain when in'closed position, and to provideVfor free manipulation 'of the curtainV to admit lightjwhensodesired;-It is also an objectA to-A provide "means" for yguiding and holding theedges of such a curtain to permit'ireeV movement Yofthe curtain and atthe Sametime prevent its edges 'fromfrwithdrawal'romsuch guiding--mea-ns Whenmanipulated, thus vdispense ing with the'necessity forcrossbracing or stiien-` ing stripsforthe curtain, and to so encloseandprotect these edges offithecurtain as to prevent every light -ray from'passing these edges or through minute openingstherein formed by a needlein stitching adjacent these edges to form a hemtherealong, said hembeing adapted to cooperate with said guiding and holding means inguiding and: holding the edges ofthe curtain and in permitting flim-itedtransverse movement and p free longitudinal movement of the curtain.

It isl also an vobject to provide Vsupplemental side edge guiding meansfor the curtain which 'means is adaptedftobe received in such edge'rhems to assist inholding the edges of the curtain WithinV guidechannels and permit free klongitudinal ing in the forrnof rods Vengagedwithin theside movement ofthe curtain-when manipulated to admit light, Asaid supplemental guiding means having a limited lateral-'movementtoprevent the curtain from binding thereon, and preferably beedgehem'sofn'vthe curtain and upon yvhichj the curtain i's'adaptedto slide.Y

It is also an object to further insure the come Y plete-exclusion oflight andeiectual holdingand guiding of the curtain, by providing" arigid frame having side `channelstoreceive theedge portions of thecurtainandfsaid supplemental guide rods, Y

said frame being adaptedjrto jiit'tightlyv within the wall opening; orWindow casing and'j to be,Y rigidly secured therein, said channels beingjsor Vformed as to be'closed'to'the(passage of light therethrough bysaidedge portions and rods, said portions being held against WithdrawalLthrough Y the open sidesofA sjaidchannels', `by'saidguide rods nels, ,ag

It is alsdan objectofv the invention't'o prevent any light rays fromAVpassing' around the lower end oflthecurtain byproviding a draw bar forsaid end jand; providing a xed sill member to receive said drawbar, saidsill' memberV and bar cooperating when interengaged, to block the light;and it is also an object to provide means for winding up g;

the,l curtain, such as a spring roller to which the' upper endvof thecurtain is attached, this roller being enclose'fd within a lightexcluding casing to prevent light'rays from passing the upper endofthecurtaim'said casing being arranged to f acilitate themounting ofthe roller therein.

Afurther object is to provide certain other new and useiulfeaturesin theconstruction, arrange- Vment and combination of the several partsadapted topromote the several objects of the invention, all'- ashereinaftermore fully described and shown'in the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 isa front elevation, with parts broken away` and'insection,of a structure illustrative of Y an embodiment ofthe presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a, transverse section-substantially upon the line' 2'l--2AofFig; 1 and through the window andc'asing to which the structure isapplied as illustrated in-Figs. 2 and 3;

- Fig.` 3 is a vertical. section substantially upon the line A3-,3ofFig. 1;" I p 4 is'v a. vertical" section substantially upon the li'ne4?-#4 of'Fig'.y l; "Figi-Bise, sectional detail substantially upon the"line '5-'5'of Fig.' 1, and

'-'Fig; "6 is' a vsectional detail sub'tantially upon 30 the line ofFig: 1. p Y l In Figs; i2rand 3 ofthe accompanying' draw- Y ings,.thecurtain "and Vstructure. embodying .the

present invention, isv shown as applied to the usual 35 Window frameincluding upright sides or'stile's I providing iways for sash frames 2,said window frameincludinga header 3 and sill 4; but it rwill l beunderstood that the 'present structure may be applied 'asV well toV any'opening in a room wall, f0-

from` which room it is desired to exclude'the light,

said: structure including a rectangular frame of a sizetogiitcloselywithin the wall opening or window frame and be securedinplace therein,

making tight joint therewith, all along the 5 topgfnottom and sides'ofthe opening. This frame Yprovides amounting for the curtain which isindicated as `a whole by the numeral Sand i'sV preferablyVA formed of :aiixiblel fabricY coatedr uponbothJ sides with ai suitable material to'make it 50A absolutely impervious toflight rays.

To'fhouse, hold and guide the side edges of this veuftain',jme z'man1rectanguiar frames which is formed of; stock of rectangularform in crosssectiongfan'd Whicli-freme is ofthe-proper dimen- 55* sions to fitwithin the opening .to be closed by said curtain, is provided along itsvertical side members, with inwardly projecting channels, by securingsheet metal strips 1 to opposed facesof each side member of the frame 6,rthese strips forming between them, an outer channel 8 along the framemember and an inner channel 9 which is open between the free innernedgesof said strips, said channels being connected by a connecting neckportion I0 formed by depressing each strip inwardly toward the otheralong a longitudinal line with aclimited space between the walls oftheneckrjust suflicient to permit the edge portions f ofthe curtain toVpass therethrough and slide freely therein, the edge portions of thecurtain being each formed with a hem IVI each extending into each oftheouter channels 8.

The side edges of the curtain are thus guided by these channels and saidhems are housed therein so that no ray of light may pass through anyminute hole in the curtain formed by the needle in stitching the hem,and to prevent thev withdrawal of these edge portions laterally fromeither of said channels, a side guide rod I 2 extends longitudinallywithin each hem and within Yeach channel throughout the length thereof,each rod being loosely anchored at its lower end within the lower end ofeachof said channels 8 by forming each rod with a head I3 connectedto,its lower end by a reduced portion passing through a slot I4 in abracket I5 secured to the frame 6. LThe curtain hemsy I I thus slidefreely upon these rods as the curtain is raised or lowered, binding ofthe hems upon the rods being prevented by the loose anchoring of eachrod at its lower end only, so that it may move laterally a limiteddistance under a pull exerted thereon by lateral pressure on thecurtain, and this movement is limited by the rods in said hems,beingmoved thereby; to-

ward the neck portion I0 of each channel, said neck beingtoo narrow topermit the rod andhem to pass therethrough. The curtain is thus guidedalong each sideedge and each edge is so coniined in its channelthat itcan not 'bewithdrawn from eitherchannel by lateral pressure on thecurtain. Free sliding movement ofthe curtain upon saidrods is furtherinsured and the lower end of the curtain connected to said rods byproviding a short sleeve I6 slidable upon each rod and inserted in thelower end of each hem and secured therein by a suitable clamping memberI1 embracing said sleeve and end portion of said hem, said sleeves beingeach formed with a laterally extending arm I8 passing through the neckportion Ivbetween the channels 8 and 9. and into `the latter where it isrigidly secured in any suitable manner to a draw bar I9 secured to andextending across the lower end of the curtain.A Y f within saidchannel-by a locking strip 22aboyeV the strip 2| and rigidly secured inplace, Ycon-g ning saidv hem4 Within thec hannel so thatrno light raycan pass throughany holes formed by the needle in sewing the hem, andthe lower end of Vthe curtain is rigidlyheld against pulling loose andis accurately guided.

In order to preventl any light raysrfrom passing around orV beneath saiddraw bar when the cur-f.

'tain is in fullyv lowered position, a sill channel 2,132,986 fl imember indicated as a whole by the numeral 23 is formed of sheet metalby securing the sheet metal forming the side walls of the channel firmlyto opposite sides of the bottom cross member of the main frame 6 and tothe lower ends of the side ways or channels which are received withinthe ends of said sill channel which is open at its upper side to receivesaid draw bar when the curtain is lowered to the limit of its movement,and therefore, as this' sill Vchannel is secured tightly against theAwindow sill, no light can pass, and to further preclude the possibilityof any light jpassingaround the lower edge of the draw bar when withinthe sill channel, an outwardly projecting flange 24 is formed Yon Vtheupper edge of the outer wall of the draw bar channel to project Y Yoverthe upper edge of the outerwall of the sill channel 23, the outer kedgeportion of this flange 24 being downturned asiat 25 at lessthan a rightrangle to closely engage the said wall of the sill channelwithin theangle of said ange, and to further insure against the passage of light,the uper edge of the inner wall of draw bar channel is turned inwardlyto form a flange 26 to project Vover the upper edge of the inner wall ofsaid sill channel. l

As shown in the drawings,the curtain 4is shown as partly lowered withsaid draw bar held at a short distance above and out of the sill channelby a pull cord 21 passed around a pulley 28 anchored to the lower partof the inner wall of the sill channeLwith the freel end of saidA corddetachably held by a spring clip 29, said curtain'being held underspring tension tending to raise it, by se- Y curing its upper end edgeto a spring actuated roller 30 extendingr across-the upper end of themain frame 6 and mounted at its ends inA bearings on'brackets 3| securedtosaid frame, said roller being of the usual curtain roller constructionhaving the usual coiled spring 32 exerting a force tending to turn theroller in a direction to wind the curtain thereon. Y

To tightly enclose said roller 30 and curtain wound thereon so that nolight can possibly pass, a sheet metal casing 33 extends across and isse? cured to the upper end of the main frame 6, said casing having top,back and end walls permanently secured to said frame and a front andlower side wall forming a detachable closure 34, the upper edge of whichis engaged within a groove formed along the edge of the top wall t0ymake a tight jointas at 35, and saidclo-sure is detachably held in placeby screws 36 engaging openings in the outer ends of the brackets 3I. Theupper ends'of theside guides each formed by the channels 8 and 9 .extendinto and are rigidly secured at their upper ends within the ends of saidcasing whichV is thus. tightly closed except alongthe lower edge of saidAclosure which provides a slot through which the curtain passes, andthus all Alight is prevented from passing the upper end of thercurtainover said roller or around its ends.

A spring roller is shown for Winding the curtain thereon but it will beunderstood that any other suitable means may be employed for rais-` ingand lowering the curtain and holding it under tension when rlowered, andto guide the curtain to this roller, a roll of small diameter 31 ismounted within the casing and adjacent said entrance slot for thecurtain. The curtain may also be quickly demounted for replacement orrepair by removing the closure 34 and then demounting the roller 30 withthe curtain wound thereon, slippingrthe hems II andfsleeves I6 from theupper ends of the guide rods I wZivvhich ends within channels andproviding means having limited lateral movement within these channelsupon which the curtain Ais .free to slide, for preventing the withdrawalof the curtain edges laterally from said channels under'pressure fromthe inside or outside upon the curtain, free movement of the curtain isinsured and no cross bracing of the curtain is necessary.

Obviously changes in the construction, arrangement and combination ofparts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention andsuch changes are contemplated.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim is l. A lightexcluding structure including a. frame to fit cl-osely within an openingand provided with inwardly open opposite side channels, the oppositeside walls of each channel being bent inwardly to -form a narrow spacetherebetween, a flexible light impervious curtain within said frame withthe opposite edges of said curtain engaged within said side channels ofsaid frame, said edge portions of said curtain being formed with hems,and a guide rod withinY each side channel of the frame extending intosaid hems and upon which said hems are slidable, each of said rods beingmounted atan end thereof for substantial movement in a lateraldirection.

2. A structure of the character describedk including a rigid rectangularframe, sheet metal strips secured to opposite sides of the side membersof said frame and forming inwardly o-pen channels, the side walls ofeach channel being formed inwardly to provide a neck portion outwardlyfrom the open inner side of each channel, a flexible light excludingcurtain having opposite side edge hems within said channels, a guide rodwithin each channel extending longitudinally thereof within the hemtherein of a greater diameter than the width of said neck portion,each*V rod being anchored at its lower end by slotted engagement with astationary member and having free limited lateral movement within eachchannel, and means to which one end of said curtain is connected forwinding the curtain thereon and h-olding said curtain under tension. 3.In a structure for the purpose described including a rigid rectangularframe, sheet metal strips secured to opposite sides of the side membersof the frame to form channels opening inwardly of the frame, eachchannel being con,

of said neck portions of saidY channels, a short sleeve slidable uponeach rod and to which the lower `end of each hem is secured, a draw barof channel form to receive the lower end of said curtain and withinwhich said end of said curtain is secured, each of said sleeves havingan arm extending inwardly through each of said side channels and securedto the ends of said draw bar, a rigid channel extending across the lowerend of saidframe and open at its upper side to receive 'said draw bar'when the curtain is lowered, said draw bar having laterally extendinganges to project over the upper edges of said end channel of the frameand close said channel.

4. A structure for the purpose described including a rigid rectangularframe having opposite vertical side members provided with inwardly openchannels extending throughout a major portion of the length of saidframe, a light impervious curtain within said frame having side edgeportions projecting into said channels and tending across the lower endof said curtain and provided at each end within each side channel with aguide sleeve through which sleeves said rods extend, said sleeves beingsecured to the lower ends of said hems, a spring roller at the upper endof said frame and upon which said curtain is adapted to be wound, and atransverse member extending across the lower end of said frame toreceive said draw bar when said curtain is lowered and enclose said drawbar and lower end of said curtain.

5. A structure for the purpose described including a rigid rectangularframe having opposite vertical side members provided with inwardly openchannels extending throughout a major portion of the length of saidframe, a light impervious-curtain within said frame having side edgeportions projecting into said channels and formed `with longitudinalhems, arod within each side channel projecting into each of said hemsfor guiding and holding the curtain at each edge,

' a draw bar secured to and extending across the lower end of saidcurtain and provided at. each end within each side channel with a guidesleeve through which sleeves said rods extend, said sleeves beingsecured-to the lower ends of said hems, a spring roller at the upper endof said frame and upon which said curtain is adapted to be wound, and atransverse member extending across the lower end of said frame toreceive said draw bar when said curtain is lowered and enclose said drawbar and lower end of said curtain, said transverse member including anupwardly open .channel and said draw bar being of channel form openupwardly to receive the lower edge of said curtain, said draw bar havinglaterally extending anges for engaging over the upperedges of saidtransverse channel when said draw bar enters said latter channel uponthe lowering of said curtain.

- LOUIS F. JULIEN.

